Part 3 Final days

 Everyone ~ here's the final convention entry :-)  Photo's of said convention coming shortly (Unfortunately your request for photos of new tops/hair colour will not be forthcoming as the camera is currently awaiting a new battery!!  Also have not seen jogger yet!!)

SUNDAY

We all woke up about 9am ish in a kind of semi blind panic as we had promised Dan that we would make our way to the main ballroom at 10am as we had to take part in the scavenger hunt. This was a new thing for this year which Dan had come up with so it was compulsary for us to turn up. Everyone in the chalet managed to have something to eat and we made our way over there!!

To take part we had to get into groups of four and unfortunately there was 6 of us in the chalet. So Pam, Claire, Fairy and Kev made up a team and Trina and I were left to go with someone else. Unfortunately those people were Wendy and Marianne. It's not that we don't like Wendy and Marianne but we don't know them as well as the others and felt this was going to be a lost cause. We got a sheet to find out what we had to find and there was just no enthusiasm from anybody. In the meantime though Wendy went to the restaurant and got us free little tubs of Ben and Jerry's new ice-cream!! Oh my god you have to try it!! It's called Bohemian Raspberry and it's gorgeous. It's vanilla ice cream with raspberry flavour added in and chocolate brownie pieces. After we had finished eating that Trina and I decided we weren't going to bother with this scavenger hunt and we would head back to the chalet and see if we couldn't 'help' another team!! Dan didn't seem to object so after we had looked at this jukebox that looked really cool, and heard some Reaction songs (Roger's first band when he was ickle) we headed back to the chalet. The Reaction stuff was really good and definitely worth a mention. Jim Jenkins was doing the collectors corner and this was stuff that he himself had in his collection. What I wouldn't give to own them. Ickle Roger singing ~ bless him!!

Back at the chalet, the group were hard at work collecting stuff and making stuff. Mr Kev was making a replica of Wembley Stadium circa 1986 (last time Queen played there). Other things they had to collect was: A bible, fried chicken, a message of love, a bicycle bell, a school skirt, fairy fellers master stroke, moustache, Felix cat food, boiled egg, 46664 wristband, pack of cards, stick of rock, a rag, and much more. Everyone was marvelling at Kev's wembley and he was paying a lot of attention to detail it looked great. Gav who was on a different team suggested that he cut out the pics from the convention programme. As Kev was busy with the details I offered some help and set about cutting out the pics. The best thing was, the smaller pic of Freddie was actually from the Wembley 86 gig. I cut out a drumkit for Roger and made Brian and John some guitars. Kev made Freddie a microphone from some cotton buds. At one point Kev had made cardboard speakers and I suggested why don't we use Pam's Ipod speakers and play the actual gig through it. I even suggested the lights from Fairy's bunny ears the previous night which Kev managed to dismantle and stick to it. Everyone was so amazed with the final product, especially when Kev finished his two cans of Carling for the towers. I went to the shop on site and brought some M&M's and Cadbury's mini eggs for the crowd. I brought a packet of roast chicken crisps and suggested that they write fried on a piece of paper and that could act as their fried chicken. On my way over to the shop I had walked behind someone with their replica wembley and it didn't look half as good as Kevins.

We made our way back to the main ballroom with the group and Trina and I sat and watched whilst Keith Harris announced the items on the list and Dan would go round and check that everyone had them. Although Wembley did get quite a good mention and Keith put his microphone down so that the rest of the room could actually hear the sounds of Wembley, the group didn't win!! Dan didn't agree that they should've got something extra for their effort. We went back to the chalet after that.

Fairy cooked up the rest of our food and Dan and Gav played around with the ducks that kept wandering in between all the chalets. They were trying to corner them so they could catch one. Watching them trying to catch a duck was the funniest thing ever and you really had to be there for it!! They tried sneaking up on them and when the ducks worked out what was going on and flew away Dan and Gav squealed and ran away. Another tatic was to put lots of bread into a corner so they could trap them easier. None of the ducks were stupid enough to touch it whilst those two were about but as soon as they went into their chalet, all of them were eating it!! Eventually Dan and Gav gave up on that idea and Gav tried to get the bread into Dan's mouth ~ without much success!! Boys I don't know!!

After food it was time to get ready for the evening. Fairy was celebrating her birthday on the Monday and Charlie's was on the Thursday so we were having a party for them. This entailed us to get dressed as punk (for charlie) fairies (for Fairy obviously!!). I felt a bit dejected about this whole idea as I'm not really a girlie person and having to be a fairy was not my idea of fun. However Fairy did my make up for me and I looked pretty good. She also did make up for Gavin and Kevin ~ they looked REALLY good, (you have to see the pics to believe me).

When everyone was ready we made our way to the ballroom. Once we entered we got some funny looks, mainly because no-one else was dressed up. At first I felt quite self consicous but mainly because I was wearing flashing deely boppers, but we were all in a good mood so I could see this was going to be a good night. We sat on the floor in front of the stage. First was Peter Freestone, guest on stage. He was there last year but this year he was much more relaxed and making jokes with everyone. The funniest thing was when he mentioned Freddie liked to lie around in his tracksuit bottoms. Pam heard this and said 'Chav' quite loudly. After Peter it was time for the raffle ~ highly embarrassing. They called a number which I had and it was the right colour so I walk up there and I didn't have the right code. So embarrssing!! Pam did actually win something - a roger picture. After that was over the next tribute band was setting up for the night so we made to move away from the floor. However before we could move lots of people wanted a group photo. I don't think I have ever smiled for so long.

We moved up to the bar area and the Tribute band Rhapsody started. They were ok but I wasn't really listening so don't take my word for it!! We got some drinks and we were all settled for the night. At one point though we were all told to go outside. No-one really told us why but we went out there with our drinks in our hands. It was cold outside!! Apparently we were out there as someone was gonna light some fireworks for Charlie but by the time we got out there it was over so we were told. So we went back in and carried on where we had left off. Including singing along to Barcelona which you have seen the video for!! It's the best video ever!! So much went on but I can't tell you what cause what happens at the convention stays at the convention, which in some cases is the best thing to happen..............

The evening was fun and at the end of the disco we had a big group on the dance floor. When the usual run of songs finished we started chanting 'Convention is a legend' etc etc............ Yet another chalet party was in swing when we got back. In Andy's chalet again but this time he wasn't playing Queen songs. He played the Foo's at some point and Trina rushed to get me. (Quiet note to myself AUGUST WOOHOO)

Didn't stay for long this time, well it is a Queen convention!! Trina and I stayed up quite late. Fairy and Kev were already in bed. We chatted to Pam, Sam and Claire for the majority of the night. It was so funny I've never laughed as hard!! I can't remember a lot of it but Pam and Claire had gone to bed at some point and all Trina and I could hear was Claire yelling for Trina. Pam emerged at some point and made us laugh even more. Claire wanted a drink of water so Pam filled a shot glass. When Claire moaned about that she filled this enormous jug. It was seriously the funniest thing ever!! (Clearly you had to be there!!)

We all went to bed about 4am!

MONDAY

We had set the alarm for 9am!! Well we had to be out of the complex by 10am. We didn't cook breakfast that morning as we all had packing to do. So everyone decided to meet up for one last meal at the Queen Vic restaurant. Trina and I eventually made our way over as we were waiting for Wayne to come and pick us up. I decided not to have any breakfast there and suggested that we stop off somewhere with Wayne and get breakfast. Trina thought this was a good idea. In the end we got a drink though!!

Wayne turned up just after 10am and he came into the restaurant to meet everyone. Gavin was pleased to meet him. People started leaving eventually, I think we left just after 11ish??!! We did stop at the services for breakfast but it wasn't the best idea ever!!

We got to Newton Abbot and we had to stop in Sainsbugs for Ben & Jerry's ice cream (definitely get some it's yummy). Afterwards we got back to Torquay and Wayne wanted to take the car through the car wash. That was fun and the car certainly did look a lot better afterwards. We then stopped off in Blockbuster to get Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny as it was released that day. Back to Trina's to watch and eat the ice cream. Wayne wanted to play footie in Exeter that night so agreed to drop me off. As the clocks had gone forward that weekend we left late. I'm not going to divulge how quick he was driving but let's say it only took about 10/15 mins. Probably a slight exaggeration but it was quick.

So that ended one of the perfect weekends in my life. I love my Queen buddies so a big personal thank you to all of them for making it so much fun xx

Thanks to Emmi for the opening graphic xx ~ link in the side bar (well it will be ~ decided to tidy up my other blogs bit!!)